How important was it for the New York Giants to get this latest coaching hire right? Important enough for co-owner John Mara, who is undergoing chemotherapy to treat cancer, to roll up his sleeves and do whatever is necessary to find the next leader of his franchise.

That, as we know now, is former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, who agreed with Mara and the Giants this week to take over as the franchise’s next head coach, although an official contract remains unsigned.

But no one expected the ailing Mara to be so involved. He had already charged general manager Joe Schoen with the coaching search and appeared to be stepping away.

Last week, reports surfaced detailing how Chris, the younger brother, was serving as the point person in the pursuit of Harbaugh, and how co-owner Steve Tisch was also taking a prominent role, lending his private jet for expediency.

From Paul Schwartz of the New York Post:

Mara, 71, is undergoing chemotherapy, and he let it be known to his doctors that once the season ended that he was going to be as involved as ever in the coaching search. He adjusted his treatment schedule to attend all six in-person interviews the team conducted — with Mike Kafka, Kevin Stefanski, Raheem Morris, Antonio Pierce, Mike McCarthy and, finally, Harbaugh. Mara was in the room for all these sessions, lasting 2-3 hours, along with Tisch, Chris Mara, Joe Schoen, Brandon Brown and Tim McDonnell.

There was no more important interview than that of Harbaugh. And Mara, who has taken over as the heart and soul of the franchise since his father Wellington’s passing in 2004, wanted to be there. He had to be there.

More from Paul Schwartz:

John Mara needed this. He needed John Harbaugh.

As much as the players, the fans, the entire building needed John Harbaugh to walk through those doors, John Mara needed him. And he got him. Harbaugh late Wednesday night agreed to become the 24th head coach in Giants’ history, and that allows Mara to know his beloved franchise is in good hands, perhaps the best of hands, now and into the future.

Now, with Harbaugh expected to join the fold in the coming days, Mara can return to focusing on his health while Harbaugh nurses his beloved franchise back to health.

This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Giants’ John Mara adjusted cancer treatment schedule to recruit John Harbaugh